GOP leaders dismiss Democrats’ efforts to impeach Trump

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told CBS News on Tuesday that he will not read the transcripts of impeachment testimony given by current U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland or ex-envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker.

The South Carolina native disclosed that “I’ve written the whole process off. … I think this is a bunch of B.S.” Then continued, “All I can say is that the president of Ukraine didn’t believe that. The president of the United States on the phone call didn’t say that. … If the person being threatened with withholding the aid, if they say, ‘I wasn’t threatened,’ I don’t care what any bureaucrat says.” He added, “We put conditions on aid all the time. But if you said I’m not going to give you money unless you investigate my political opponent to help me politically, that would be completely out of bounds.”

This revelation from Graham communicated in concurrence with similar sentiments that were conveyed the same day by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The GOP leader from Kentucky affirmed on Tuesday the Senate would acquit President Donald Trump if an impeachment trial were held today. McConnell asserted “I will say I’m pretty sure how it’s likely to end,” he declared, “If it were today, I don’t think there’s any question — it would not lead to a removal. So the question is how long does the Senate want to take? How long do the presidential candidates want to be here on the floor of the Senate instead of in Iowa and New Hampshire?” The Republican ringleader then finished “At some point, it looks to me like they’re going to send it over to the Senate. As you all know that means we have to take it up.”

Jacob Ellis is a Michigan-based writer with a passion for crafting thoughtful, investigative content that goes beyond the noise of today's polarized mainstream media. Whether covering politics, sports or local issues, Jacob applies his admiration for storytelling and journalism to every word.